San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-03-24

through sufferance OF the Olty Couhch,"n"
control the matter. The sole question is'
Is the allowance to the assessor reasonable
or unreasonable? If the latter, then the
Council is responsible. We will not argue
the point, but submit it to all men of COM
mon sense. How many days would an ac-
tive. capable business men like Mr.. Hop
kins require to take the assessment OF this
corpors ton, and could he fairly earn $2lO.-
SO in that time? These points involve
the merits of the question, and we leave
them to the decision of "a discerning pub
lic" This allowance, be it observed, is for
1886 only; like or larger amount Will OF
course be expected for the present year.
This matter is all under the control of the
Council and they alone are responsible. 1t
may be oil right we merely submit tho ques-
ton for public consideration.
But however it may be as to this, there
con be no question as to the totally illegal,
unwarranted and exorbitant allowance for
printing and advertising the revised ordi-
nances (so-called). We speak here by the
book, 1t was illegal and in violation of nil
legal usage in the fact that no opportunity
for bids of other parties were allowed
What say the Town Ordinances so glibly
quoted by the Cresset in the case of the
ASSESSOR Why Just this (see article 1O9):
Contracts for the printing of the town
shall be awarded by the Mayor and Print
ing Committee, under authority OF the
Town Council, to the lowest and best re-
sponsible bidder, after advertisement for
sealed proposals, as i'll case OF other con-
tracts.
Now we submit if these ordinances are
good law in the case of the assessor, they
are equally good in this case, and demon
strete the ilegality of the course of the
Council in the matter under notice. 1t is
difficult to conceive of any honest reason for
their FILLING to require bids for the printing
of the town (Which manifestly includes also
the advertising of the ordnances). Fur
thermore we are Informed by Mr.. Giesen
that the work was not authorized by him,
or by the Council, but having been done,
was allowed by the Printing Committee, OF
which we believe Mr.. Roger Byrne is
Chairman, and who, we have reason to be.
lieye, exercised controlling influence in
the matter. This is chow it all came about. VI
Now as to the amount allowed. The pam
phlet of ordinances consists of 100 copies OF
80 pages each in large type. loaded. One
dollar pc page or $50 for the job, would
have been liberal compensation.
We know what we are talking about. We
had no special desire to do the work, but
we know it could and would have been
done. and better done, for the amount we
have stated. Now as to advertising" these
ordinances. This is the way it was done.
The same type used in printing the pamph-
let, without any change of measure. was
used in the Cressets supplement of the or
dinances, about 200 copies. The pamphlet
and supplements should not have cost over
$50 or $40. We printed the ordinances of
1880 complete-not merely the criminal
side rs was done by the Cresset-in con-
siderably larger pamphlet, for not one-half
$50, and inserted the same in our paper for
$3.50. Yet Roger Byrne's printing CON-
mittee (of course they know all about print
ipg) after excluding all bids, unhesitatinely
reported in favor of allowing their favorite
of the Cresset 500 for O less amount of
work.
Comment is unnecessary, and we have
only one point to make, which is this
While any man or set of men, or any special
interest or influence have perfect right to
have a newspaper organ if they so desire,
we insist that, when it does not pay in the
way of public patronage, they should them
selves ''pay the piper" and not 60 down
into the pockets of the taxpayers for that
purpose. That is the point We make, and
we submit the question if it is not fair
aud reasonable and honest one. Sixty or
one hundred dollars it is true Is rot q very
large sum, but under the present financial
outlook for our city we submit whether it
were not just as well to save it, especially
when law, justice and reason all point in
that direction.
One thing more. The so-called revised
ordinances relate only to criminal matters.
Why did not the Council, while they were
about it, in this the first year of the city
government, have all the ordinances, civil
as well as criminal. revised and published?
Surely there are many other things in which
our people are in;erested-such for instance
as city officers and their duties, taKes; IL
ceuses; health; improvement Of streets; and
a great many others. At present We are ''at
SEA as 10 all these other similar mat
ters Why we're not al the ordinances re-
vissd and inclnded in the same publication.
for the public dirsctiOn and conveniences
Why make tEo bites Of the cherry
Could i have been a sharp stroke q policy
on the part q the Roger Bryns committee
70 give another fat Job TO their favorites
We take leave q tins subject. merely
aiding. that Law, justloe and fair dealing
shoud prevE1 in small ~ vel a. great
things. IN public A. vel a. private Affairs;
AID that the good men e our CITY CO11cl
roud do Themselves credit hereafter b. not
a1oEing themselves 70 BE mirsd up With
and 80 male responsible tor similar crooked
tr1nszrfious But SD from tbess cansid-
s-sfious. the funuciEl Condition q cur lite
eifv j s-rsly not s1sh - 20 rErrzut any
rsesisus err,au5itrrss, and sho1ld Be q rrat-
fs- q eloss scrrti-v ~ Cur tarravers